2020 Hindsight: What a long, strange year it has been

The saying goes, the days drag on but the years go by quickly.  And, I have to admit, as I sit here on the 351st day of 2020, I have to agree.  On 12 /16/2020, I was thinking about that fateful Monday, a year ago, when Alexa found out she was accepted to Penn Nursing.  We were so anticipatory of what 2020 had to bring for her.  But I NEVER thought that what we have just experienced was going to happen.  Losing the last half of her Senior Spring, including Softball, Prom, Class Trip, and with an amended set of Graduation events.  Then this Fall semester, this STRANGE Fall semester as her initial semester of college.  My 2020 Hindsight is what a long, strange year it has been.  But, then I also look back and think of all of the unique experiences we have all had.  We are healthy, remote college has not been better than what we might have feared.  We have had an extra four months of Alexa at home (which is probably better for us than it is for her).  Things have been different, things have been strange, but I have been very proud of how Alexa has rolled with the punches and that has made it easier for me to roll with them as well.  As we are on the precipice of 2021, with a new, hopefully partially on-campus Spring semester for Alexa and a slow return to "normal" for the rest of us, I am going to focus on the good parts of the last 12 months, and hope that we can focus on even better parts for the future.  Congratulations to all of the members of the Class of 2025 Early Decision who found out, today, that THEIR Penn journey is about to begin.  I am guessing that 2021 will be a lot different than we expect at this moment, may we all focus on the good, and roll with the punches!